Accident Overview
On July 20, 2013, at 11:52 a.m., our client was riding his Schwinn bicycle eastbound on Balfour Road 168 feet west of Logan Way in the city of Brentwood, county of Contra Costa, state of California. Our client was riding his bicycle against the flow of traffic which is a violation of California Vehicle Code Section 21650.1. The automobile driver was also cited by the police for failure to yield, a violation of section 21804 of the California Vehicle Code. The bicycle accident in Brentwood resulted in the loss of work, serious injuries, and large medical bills leaving our client in a state of uncertainty.
About the Auto vs Bicycle Accident Settlement in Brentwood
This was a bicycle versus automobile accident that resulted in serious injuries for our client, partly due to the other driver’s negligence. The driver of the car that caused the accident was driving a 2004 Toyota Tundra.
There were no adverse road conditions when the accident happened.
After the accident, our client suffered from a fractured right patella, a broken nose, and lacerations to his forehead and neck. Our client was transported by CalSTAR Med-Evac to John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek where he underwent treatment for his injuries. The driver of the car that caused the accident was insured by Safeco Insurance.
Case Facts
Our client needed surgery for his fractured right patella and his broken nose. At first, Safeco insurance was not willing to pay for our client’s medical bills due to the fact that the police officer placed our client as having violated section 21650.1. Our client missed a significant amount of work and had large medical bills from this accident.
Based on this information, he reached out to GJEL Accident Attorneys to see if he was entitled to compensation and to have his questions answered. He wanted to know:
- Who is responsible for my medical bills?
- How will I pay these bills and the loss of work?
- What if I have permanent lifelong damage to my body?
The staff at GJEL were able to quickly evaluate the case over the phone and arrange to meet him at John Muir Hospital.
Based on the serious injuries from this accident and the mounting medical bills, our client decided to retain GJEL Accident Attorneys to help get his life back on track after this tragic accident.
The staff at GJEL started a full investigation which started with getting the police report from the Brentwood Police Department. The police report showed that both drivers were partly at fault.
At first, the party at fault’s insurance company, Safeco, was not convinced that their driver had the main liability in this matter. As the firm continued to collect evidence and hire an accident reconstruction expert, the insurance company changed its mind.
Attorneys Jim Larsen and Andy Gillin helped our client through this difficult time and ultimately were able to settle this case. The case took approximately eleven months to resolve. In the end, our client was awarded $112,500 for this bicycle accident.
| Insurance Company Names: | Safeco |
| Police Report | Brentwood Police Department |
| Vehicle Types | 2004 Toyota Tundra |
| Accident Locations: | Balfour Road at Logan Way, Brentwood, CA |
| Hospitals and Medical Centers Visited | Cal STAR MediVac, John Muir Hospital, AMR |
| Types of Injuries (As specific as possible) | Fractured right patella requiring surgery, broken nose, laceration to forehead, and neck injury. |
As a California bicycle law firm, GJEL Accident Attorneys understands the unique challenges that cyclists face on the roads. Our team of experienced attorneys is dedicated to representing injured cyclists and fighting for their rights. Whether you’ve been involved in a hit-and-run accident, a dooring incident, or a collision with a motor vehicle, we are here to help.
We have a proven track record of success in securing fair compensation for our clients and we are committed to providing personalized attention to each and every case. If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, contact GJEL Accident Attorneys today for a free consultation.
Andy Gillin received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California at Berkeley and his law degree from the University of Chicago. He is the managing partner of GJEL Accident Attorneys and has written and lectured in the field of plaintiffs’ personal injury law for numerous organizations. Andy is a highly recognized wrongful death lawyer in California.